NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA), a part of the GlobalOptions Group (OTCBB:GLOI), recently was awarded a one-year contract, which began July 1, 2006, to provide disaster preparedness planning services to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. GlobalOptions Group's James Lee Witt Associates operating unit (JLWA) has partnered with Baton Rouge-based IEM to provide these services.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has taken proactive measures to ensure its state has pre-disaster event plans in place that will provide FEMA Public Assistance program applicants with the best assistance available throughout the recovery period in the event of a disaster. By acting as liaison between applicants and FEMA, JLWA will provide a comprehensive plan that includes pre-declaration preparation, such as educating local governments about how to conduct preliminary damage assessments and how to perform preliminary damage assessments with FEMA. As part of its contract, JLWA will also be involved in post-event recovery operations, as well as close interaction with FEMA personnel in the areas of damage inspection and insurance oversight. In July, JLWA was called in to perform these services after storms caused severe flooding in the region. Currently, JLWA is assisting with recovery operations as a result of Hurricane Ernesto.
James Lee Witt, chairman and CEO of JLWA and former FEMA director under the Clinton Administration, praised the Commonwealth for its foresight, stating, "It is good to see smart emergency management in action. Virginia's Department of Emergency Management knows that disaster preparedness starts now – before a disaster strikes. It will be an excellent experience helping this great state."
James Lee Witt Associates has the expertise to provide and implement best practices to ensure public safety and business continuity in the event of a natural disaster or terrorism threat. The firm advises and develops plans on behalf of a number of government entities, including responsibility for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts for the State of Louisiana and helping create the disaster response plan to help the Cayman Islands recover from Hurricane Ivan. The company also works with Orange County and Collier County in Florida, as well as universities, hospitals, governments, and a variety of Fortune 500 companies, including those in the insurance, transportation, entertainment, finance, utilities, and emergency management industries.
"Preplanning, such as that being conducted by the Commonwealth of Virginia, can give state and local governments a big head start in public safety, infrastructure reliability, and business and government continuity during times of emergency," added Mr. Witt.
About James Lee Witt Associates
Founded in 2001, James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA), a part of the GlobalOptions Group, is a public safety and crisis management consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Little Rock, and Sacramento. Led by James Lee Witt, the FEMA Director under President Clinton, JLWA has unrivaled experience and hands-on knowledge of public safety, disaster response, continuity of operations, and emergency management issues. JLWA's management team and staff include some of the nation's most notable and experienced disaster management experts, such as General Wesley Clark, one of the nation's most distinguished retired military officers, who formerly served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander; and Rodney Slater, who formerly served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
JLWA's clients include the nation's premier universities, hospitals, governments, and a variety of Fortune 500 companies including those in the insurance, transportation, entertainment, finance, utilities, and emergency management industries. Most recently, JLWA was retained by the State of Louisiana to help Governor Blanco on disaster recovery matters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. JLWA has advised government leaders, including governors, members of Congress, administration officials, and state and local elected officials, on emergency management policies and programs. www.wittassociates.com
About GlobalOptions Group
GlobalOptions Group, with headquarters in New York City and offices in 16 cities, is a provider of high-end risk assessment and mitigation services to Fortune 1000 corporations, governmental organizations and high-profile individuals throughout the world. GlobalOptions Group's services currently include risk management and security, investigations and litigation support, and crisis management. These engagements take GlobalOptions Group staff around the world and are typically highly-sensitive engagements where GlobalOptions Group is interacting with senior leaders in corporations and governments. Its overall mission is to identify, evaluate, assess, prevent and correct issues that may threaten people, organizations or strategic initiatives for corporations or governments. www.globaloptionsgroup.com
